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Community Submissions

Sharing our personal stories can strengthen our bonds with family and friends, help us not feel so alone, and it can generate more social respect for all of our unique abortion experiences. But, sharing our stories can also come with great personal and professional risks.  Whether you chose to share your story publicly, privately, or not at all, know that you deserve to be heard with dignity and respect. Your story is powerful and intimate and we’re rooting for you every step of the way.


Exhale promotes ‘Ethical Storysharing’ – a practice that puts the owner of the story - you, the person who has had an abortion – in the center of the storytelling process. It ensures that your rights, needs, and leadership are supported and respected throughout the process. Ethical storysharing encourages wellbeing, and facilitates cultural transformation.


Ready to share your story?

October 21, 2020 By Exhale 1 Comment

6-week Surgical Abortion Experience

Submitted by: Lena I knew as soon as I found out that I was pregnant that I wanted to share my experience with others. I knew this because I couldn't turn to anyone for help or support. I couldn't find anyone. I'm sure there are people in my life who have had to experience abortions, but there is … [Read more...] about 6-week Surgical Abortion Experience

Filed Under: Community Submissions

October 15, 2020 By Exhale Leave a Comment

It’s Okay to Feel and It’s Okay to Not Feel

Submitted by: Lydia It was October 2015 when I found out that I was pregnant. My breasts had been ridiculously sore and after two weeks of intolerable discomfort and some pain, I went to my university health center to see what was wrong. My first instinct was to think that I had breast cancer. … [Read more...] about It’s Okay to Feel and It’s Okay to Not Feel

Filed Under: Community Submissions

October 7, 2020 By Exhale 1 Comment

Until We Meet Again

Submitted by: Emily It’s 5 AM. My boyfriend is asleep beside me. I am trying to cry quietly so I don’t wake him up. My heart is heavy and my feelings are complicated by the extreme nausea, dizziness and fatigue I’ve been fighting this past 2 weeks. I believe it to be Hyperemesis but I feel that I … [Read more...] about Until We Meet Again

Filed Under: Community Submissions

October 3, 2020 By Exhale Leave a Comment

I was 8-weeks

Submitted by: Sally I was 8-weeks when I decided to go through with the surgical abortion. Prior to the date I battled between keeping it or aborting it. Deep down I wanted it, would've been my first born. I knew if I would have kept it, life would have changed tremendously. I just graduated … [Read more...] about I was 8-weeks

Filed Under: Community Submissions

October 1, 2020 By Exhale 3 Comments

Regret

Submitted by: S D Is it normal to want to go back and not go through with it? Today is 3 weeks. 3 weeks of crying all day. Cry when I wake up. Cry throughout the day. Cry myself to sleep. I just want to go back and not get in the car. I want to stay curled up in bed with the little kicks. … [Read more...] about Regret

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September 30, 2020 By Exhale Leave a Comment

My Story and Letter

Submitted by: Ella My letter to my sweet angel, and my story. I am a single mom of 1. I had a high risk pregnancy with my son due to hyperemesis. I was married to my sons dad, but divorced after almost 7 years together. Through mutual friends, I met someone who I thought was a great guy (had … [Read more...] about My Story and Letter

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September 28, 2020 By Exhale 12 Comments

A Mother’s Most Difficult Decision

Submitted by: R H I am a mother of a 2 and 4 year old. I love them more than anything in this world. However, being a mom to young kids hasn’t been easy. I wasn’t ready to be pregnant again when I found out I was pregnant with my second. My son was only 13 months old at the time. I did not enjoy … [Read more...] about A Mother’s Most Difficult Decision

Filed Under: Community Submissions

September 26, 2020 By Exhale 2 Comments

Heartbreak

Submitted by: N I just had a surgical abortion last week. It was painful, and a few days after I was admitted to hospital due to serious complications, they hadn’t completed the abortion properly and I had to have another one as an emergency procedure. Due to coronavirus, all of this had to be … [Read more...] about Heartbreak

Filed Under: Community Submissions

September 21, 2020 By Exhale 8 Comments

To be Able to Go Back and Change What I Have Done

Submitted by: Kristin It’s been a little over two months since I terminated my pregnancy, and not a day goes by that I haven’t cried and felt regret. I am a 43 year old married woman with two young boys. My pregnancy was unexpected and and didn’t come with a great deal of happiness. A lot of … [Read more...] about To be Able to Go Back and Change What I Have Done

Filed Under: Community Submissions

September 8, 2020 By Exhale 1 Comment

From Regret to Liberation

Submitted by: Lily I would like to share my story to women who are feeling regret or guilt after abortion, because I know very well how it feels like. I lived in the hell of my mind for 3 years. However recently, I had finally liberated myself from the regret and self-criticism, and I have never … [Read more...] about From Regret to Liberation

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August 25, 2020 By Exhale 1 Comment

Utah 1993

Submitted by: Ineededthis We were high school sweethearts that had known each other since grade school. Everyone thought we were perfect together and I was in passionate love. But our relationship was rocky, there was lying, cheating and deceit. In our just under 2 year relationship we broke up … [Read more...] about Utah 1993

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August 17, 2020 By Exhale 1 Comment

Have Compassion for Yourself and Others

Submitted by: G Nearly a year out from my abortion and I have cycled through many emotions: relief, sadness, guilt, fear, anger, shame, and sometimes peace. I am 26, in a humanities grad program with no savings, and habits of self-neglect. I realize now that I could have raised my baby, though … [Read more...] about Have Compassion for Yourself and Others

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August 15, 2020 By Exhale Leave a Comment

My Experience

Submitted by: Sarah Just yesterday, I found out that I was pregnant for the first time ever. My body had been feeling extremely off for weeks and I just kept ignoring the symptoms because I didn’t want to face the fact if I was. I couldn’t even look at a pregnancy test by myself because I was so … [Read more...] about My Experience

Filed Under: Community Submissions

August 2, 2020 By Exhale 4 Comments

Ready

Submitted by: Caro I have shared my story with two people, my partner and a friend. I have read stories on other sites, in books and listened to different documentaries and podcast. I tend to intellectualize my emotions, trying to learn how others handle things or have coped. I feel like I … [Read more...] about Ready

Filed Under: Community Submissions

July 30, 2020 By Exhale 1 Comment

Unexpected pregnancy at 42. I should’ve known better…right?!

Submitted by: Lisa I’m a mother of 4. The oldest is 24 and the youngest is 8. Never would I have imagined I would be pregnant again at this stage of my life. I’ve been in a relationship with my partner for 10 years. Although we live together, he’s not supportive in a way that I need him to be. … [Read more...] about Unexpected pregnancy at 42. I should’ve known better…right?!

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July 26, 2020 By Exhale 7 Comments

Can’t Unsee

Submitted by: L My worst fear happened. Last night I took misoprostol. I had taken mifepristone the day before, and even though I was feeling really uneasy about it, I felt it was already too late to back out. I cried before and took the pills. A few hours later and I started bleeding. I was … [Read more...] about Can’t Unsee

Filed Under: Community Submissions

July 26, 2020 By Exhale 2 Comments

Needing someone…

Submitted by: Violet It’s been over a year since my abortion. I’ve gone through every single emotion -- grief, guilt, relief, happiness, sadness, etc. But right now I’m feeling defeated. I feel like I lost so much. I lost the love of my life, who I could've had this child with. I lost myself. … [Read more...] about Needing someone…

Filed Under: Community Submissions

July 24, 2020 By Exhale 2 Comments

My experience

Submitted by: Lauren I recently had an abortion this last Saturday. I was 10 weeks. I started dating someone and around 3 months in, I found out I was pregnant. I freaked out at first because we barely knew one another and now we were going to be raising a child, my first child. At first he … [Read more...] about My experience

Filed Under: Community Submissions

July 22, 2020 By Exhale 4 Comments

Struggling with self and love

Submitted by: Stella I am struggling. It’s been 6 months. I have been through every emotion. As I work through the stages of grief, coming to acceptance is perhaps the hardest of all. I made the choice to end my only pregnancy at 44 because my partner could not commit to parenting. It was not … [Read more...] about Struggling with self and love

Filed Under: Community Submissions

July 15, 2020 By Exhale 3 Comments

Untitled

Submitted by: Sophie I fell pregnant at the end of 2019, and had my abortion at almost 10 weeks on the 14th January 2020. I was 19 at the time and am still at university. Only my boyfriend and a couple of friends knew about the pregnancy, and me and my boyfriend had only been together about 4 … [Read more...] about Untitled

Filed Under: Community Submissions

July 14, 2020 By Exhale 3 Comments

Closer to the breath of angels…

Submitted by: Clouds Illusions You have a five year old half sister. She wanted you, but she didn't know that you briefly existed. Your daddy is the most wonderful man on the face of the earth. He also wanted you. But no one wanted you more than I did. Your sister and I took frequent … [Read more...] about Closer to the breath of angels…

Filed Under: Community Submissions

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